Peloton vs. Zwift: Which App Will Work Best for You? 

When it comes to biking indoors, two of the most popular app options are Peloton and Zwift. While many of us prefer riding outside, there are times when heading indoors becomes the best—or only—option.

Perhaps winter is coming bringing shorter days, colder air, icy roads, and snow. If you don’t have a fat bike, bike lights, or enjoy snowy rides, staying inside might be the safer or more enjoyable choice.

On the flip side, some of us have to move indoors in the summer because it is just too hot to ride outside!

Not to mention, we’ve all had those moments where we want to get a ride in only to find that it is pouring rain and not really safe to be on the road. Or, you’re short on time and want to ride, but just don’t have it in you to gather all of the things that you need.

In any of these cases, indoor riding offers a flexible and convenient way to keep your fitness goals on track. And a training app can help keep you motivated and entertained while doing so.

Curious about which app option will work best for you? In this article, we explore two of the most popular indoor riding options, Peloton and Zwift, in order to help you choose.

Peloton at a Glance  

According to the Peloton website, “Peloton uses technology and design to connect the world through fitness, empowering people to be the best version of themselves anywhere, anytime.” Basically, in 2012 Peloton decided that they wanted to take the concept of boutique fitness (think Soul Cycle, Orange Theory, Pure Barre) and bring it into the home.

What you get is an app that has hundreds of on-demand and live classes. They include everything from cycling, to running/yoga/strength training/etc.

Though Peloton does have its own equipment (and arguably their equipment offers the most seamless experience) you can also use the peloton app and ride on pretty much any spin bike or an indoor trainer.

For cyclists, Peloton has power zone classes and a power zone program. The instructors, some of whom are outdoor cyclists themselves, guide you through rides designed to strengthen your performance.

Peloton also has leaderboards where you can see how you compare to other people participating in the ride. You can give other riders a high five for encouragement.

Zwift At a Glance 

At its core, Zwift is a cycling app. No strength training, no yoga, no classes, just straight up riding your bike.

Though you do now have the option of buying a Zwift bike (it was just released this year), most people who use Zwift use their own personal bike on a bike trainer. As a result of this, as well as the nature of the app, Zwift tends to more accurately simulate actual riding on the road.

Zwift is often described as a “gamified” cycling app. You ride through a virtual world and can get “powerups” that give you a little boost to ride faster.

Zwift also has a huge, optional social component. You can even go on a group ride! And, there is a companion app where you can group chat with other riders or DM other riders directly.

Finally, another big draw of Zwift is that it has actual racing, so you can join a race and race other people. There are even quite a few pro-cyclists who are on Zwift, so you might just find yourself riding alongside one!

Peloton vs. Zwift Factors to Consider  

So, now that we have a basic overview of each, let’s run through some of the things that you should consider when you are deciding which is going to offer the best experience for you.

What Equipment Will You Need? 

In order to use the Peloton App, you need to either have a Peloton Bike, a spin bike of some sort, or your own bike on an indoor trainer. Not too surprisingly, the experience tends to be best on the Peloton Bike itself. Peloton wants you to buy their bike!

Here are my honest thoughts on the bike. If you are short, like me, you might have a really hard time getting it to fit properly.

I vastly prefer the fit of my road bike on a trainer for indoor cycling. It’s frustrating to buy a piece of equipment that is so expensive that doesn’t fit well. I also find that it feels cheap in comparison to my road bike. Which, fair enough, my road bike WAS more expensive, but still.

To use the Zwift App, most people will use an indoor trainer. In my opinion you get the best experience with a smart trainer that automatically adjusts resistance like the Wahoo Kickr*. My husband and I both have Wahoo Kickr trainers.

These trainers are workhorses and have lasted for YEARS (over 5 years and still going strong!). In fact, if you splurge on the Zwift Bike you will notice that the Zwift Bike frame comes with a Wahoo trainer.

If you have a classic trainer (think no electronics) you can still use this. You will just need a speed sensor to pair with Zwift.

Finally, you will also need a device like a phone or iPad to run Zwift. Though Peloton bikes have everything built in, but you will need your own device if you are just running the Peloton app without the Peloton bike.

For Zwift, you will need a device to run the Zwift app, even if you do purchase the Zwift bike. The Zwift bike includes a holder for a device but not the device itself). 

How Much Does it Cost?

Though cycling can be a very expensive sport, there are ways to ride indoors that don’t totally break the bank.

With Peloton, you can get a spin bike for relatively cheap. Then, you can subscribe to the monthly Peloton App + membership of $24. Many women I know use a Sunny spin bike, a cadence sensor, and the Peloton App + and love it.

However, if you purchase a Peloton Bike, the membership cost is $44/month. The bikes start at $995 for a refurbished original bike, and go up from there. This is a significantly more expensive option, but is what will give you arguably the best experience.

On the other hand, Zwift’s monthly membership is $19.99, so it is definitely a bit cheaper. All you will need to ride on Zwift is a trainer and your bike hooked up to the trainer. Though smart trainers like Wahoo’s can be pricey, you can alternatively use a classic or “dumb” trainer and a speed sensor.

All in all, if you go the cheapest route for either app you will end up with a similar cost. If you go with a higher-end Peloton option, however, your monthly cost will be at least double that of Zwift’s.

The Overall Riding Experience

When you think about riding indoors, what is the overall riding experience that you want? It is important to consider what will resonate with you the most when you are choosing between Peloton and Zwift.

Though Peloton does have some scenic ride options that attempt to mimic being outdoors on the bike, this is not the focus of the Peloton cycling experience. 

The vast majority of riding options on the Peloton are led like a spin class. There is an instructor that is talking to you and motivating you to keep going every step of the way. There are a lot of short rides that are 20 min long with HIIT options, Tabata options, etc.

Music is a huge focus of many Peloton rides. There are 80s rides, 90s rides, Broadway Rides, Taylor Swift rides, etc.

Though there is a bit of a social aspect to Peloton with the leaderboard and giving high fives, this is not the focus. You can’t chat with other riders, even if you are taking the same class live at the same time.

Zwift, on the other hand, much more closely mimics a true cycling experience. Though it is gamified and you are riding through virtual worlds, there are other riders on the road. You can give them a “Ride on!” as you pass, and you can use them to motivate you up that hill!

Zwift workouts are specifically designed to make you a stronger cyclist. Most, if not all of them, are much longer than 20 minutes. Think more endurance than short bursts (though there are certainly interval rides, over/under rides, etc.).

You also can do races in Zwift which are not an option in Peloton. Also, the social aspect of Zwift is much greater with the Zwift Companion app. You can chat with other riders around you, join a group ride, and DM people all in the Zwift Companion app.

Consider Your Goals 

Another important consideration when choosing between Peloton and Zwift are your goals. What specifically is it that you want to get out of your indoor rides…both now and in the future? This can dictate which app is the best choice for you. 

For example, when I first started riding indoors it was wintertime. I knew that I wanted to not just maintain but actually increase my cycling fitness over the winter. My big goal was to be able to keep up with other riders in group rides.

I also wanted to have an easier time getting up hills! As a result of these goals I ended up choosing to get an indoor trainer and Zwift.

Nowadays my goals have changed. I just want to stay active, and have fun.

For the past few years I have gravitated towards Peloton because I find that I have less time to devote to workouts. I also really love the encouragement of the instructors. I find I am very motivated by the music, and that by immersing myself in this experience I get a great workout in a shorter period of time. 

Features for Cyclists 

Given that Zwift is specifically for cycling, and Peloton caters to cycling, strength training, running, and more, it’s important to break down the features of each that are really cycling specific.

Peloton started primarily as a spin bike experience and the majority of its classes function as spin classes. However, they do have Powerzone rides and Powerzone programs that include FTP tests and are designed to make you a stronger, faster rider both on the bike and on the road.

These rides tend to be longer and a bit less exciting than, for example, a 20 min 80s pop ride, but they absolutely get the job done and can increase FTP and cycling fitness.

On the other hand, Zwift is all about cycling. There isn’t anything else! Therefore you have a bunch of different cycling options to choose from.

You can hop onto a virtual group ride, or even a virtual cycling race.

There are several workouts and training plans within Zwift to choose from too. So if you just want a one off over/under workout you can find that. If you want a full blown plan that is going to tell you how often to ride each week and give you a specific workout designed to make you stronger, you can find that too.

Bottom Line Peloton vs. Zwift     

As someone who has used both Peloton and Zwift at different times to achieve different goals, I can say with certainty and confidence that both of these apps are great. Both will help you get on the bike more frequently indoors.

If your primary focus, overall, is to be a stronger cyclist, I do feel like Zwift is the better option. When I surveyed members in the Femme Cyclist Community and several other women’s cycling Facebook groups, it was clear that amongst Female Cyclists, Zwift is the clear favorite.

Zwift most closely mimics the cycling experience of being on the road. It has many more training plan options, and you can use your own bike which is just so much better and more comfortable than a Peloton or spin bike.

If you are looking for longer, endurance style rides indoors I think that Zwift is a must. I could not see myself staying on a Peloton up to two hours.

Additionally, I think it’s safe to say that it is the app that more pro-cyclists are going to gravitate towards when they have to ride inside.

If, however, you have a hard time motivating yourself to ride indoors and just want to stay active, I feel like Peloton is your best bet.

You have an instructor right there chatting with you, talking you up, and encouraging you every step of the way. It’s immersive and fun!

I actually find that I tend to be more focused on the entire riding experience on Peloton than I did when I rode on Zwift. With Zwift I often would watch Bridgerton on Netflix because I was just kind of…bored.

With a Peloton ride I tend to get more bang for my buck so to speak because even if I am only on the bike for 20 minutes I am working for that 20 minutes.

At the end of the day you need to factor in the kind of experience YOU want. Consider your goals and the equipment you want to invest in. Then, you will likely have a clear winner and know if either Peloton or Zwift is the right direction for you.

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